Caít Keane (Fine Gael)

I also mention the fact that this is historic day for politics, with the introduction of the Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill, which will provide for a 30% quota of women candidates. I will speak on that Bill later today. Sadly, quotas are necessary to increase the proportion of women candidates. If we were to use any other method we would have to wait more than 200 years. This has to be done.

Good samaritan, or civil liability, legislation would protect members of the public who choose, out of the goodness of their hearts, to help people in trouble. Such legislation is intended to stop people hesitating for fear of being sued. We do not have legislation to protect such people, although other countries do. Such legislation pertains in many civil law jurisdictions which encompass most EU states.

The Law Reform Commission examined this issue in 2009 and recommended that a legal duty of care be introduced in legislation. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to come to the House to make a statement on good samaritan and civil liability legislation, and consider introducing such legislation. We Irish are noted for being kind and good and helping people but it has been noticed that there is hesitancy in helping people. An exercise was carried out yesterday on "The John Murray Show" when people helped people in cars. It may not have been a fair exercise. The balance of male and female in Donegal and Kerry was noted.

I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he would consider making a statement on the introduction of a good samaritan and civil liability Bill.